Silicon Valley isn't just for young tech entrepreneurs. May families find the excellent lifestyle, high-quality amenities, and safe suburban homes they are looking for in Silicon Valley. If you are considering moving your family into the area, you may want to familiarize yourself with the best cities for safety, education, healthcare access, and more. As natives to the area who are always helping families move, we've compiled a list of the top five places in Silicon Valley for families.
1. Best for the Urban Transplants: San Jose
Are you used to big city life? San Jose is in the heart of Silicon Valley and its largest city. Anyone who wants a bit more security and suburban life for their children but it's ready to give up the best amenities that a big city has to offer will find that San Jose offers the lifestyle they are looking for.
You also don't need to sacrifice school quality, as even the public schools in this city are highly rated. The nightlife, restaurants, cultural attractions and amenities are top-notch as well, and you can avoid small pockets of crime with careful choice of neighborhood.
West San Jose is a more suburban area that is still only 15 minutes from downtown. If you'd also like to be near the bustling hub of Campbell--a city that is lovely for single people but that doesn't make our list--you might consider living in Willow Glen or Cambrian. Schools in Willow Glen are above average, and the schools in Cambrian are a little better.
2. Best for the Safety-Conscious: Sunnyvale
With less crime than San Jose and even better schools, the nearby Sunnyvale may be a better choice for a family that isn't as interested in the glamours of city life. Instead, if you live in Sunnyvale, you'll be rewarded with family-friendly venues and great public services.
Sunnyvale has long been ranked one of the safest cities in the United States. SmartAsset.com has ranked the city as the safest in the country for three years in a row, ending in 2018. The city has put a lot of thought into its safety service (EMS, fire and police.)It is a single service where every member is trained in all three fields so that they can respond to any emergency call.
While the north end of Sunnyvale is industrial, the south is residential and has476 acres of parks that you can let your kids run wild in without stressing about their safety. It's plenty of space to play catch, organize a soccer game, or just let the kids amuse themselves.
3. Best for Health Fanatics: Santa Clara
Santa Clara is a large city that sits right between San Jose and Sunnyvale. While it has many of the other top cities' charms, it stands out in its healthcare and fitness facilities. According to Niche, Santa Clara is the 13th healthiest place to live in the United States, with exceptionally low rates of smoking, obesity and alcohol. Your family will have high access to doctors and mental health providers if you choose to live in this city.
While not as safe as Sunnyvale, the city is still safe. While not as focused on primary education as Mountain View, Santa Clara is home to Santa Clara University. This institution is highly rated and offers degrees in a wide range of disciplines. Previous graduates have gone on to be Senators, create JavaScript, and win Pulitzer prizes. If you live here, your children will be able to get a very high-quality education right near home.
4. Best for Scholastic Achievement: Mountain View
Mountain View is most notable as the home of Google. It offers families a peaceful suburban life, lots of great job opportunities, and many of the amenities of the other cities. Where it really stands out is in schools from pre-K to grade 12. It isn't just that the schools are high quality, but that they offer something very unique.
Firstly, there's the Khan Lab School, a laboratory school associated with the Khan Academy. Children are not organized by age but are grouped by academic progress and are expected to act independently. The school also teaches emotional and social skills.
There are two other main private schools in Mountain View: the German International School of Silicon Valley and the Yew Chung International School of Silicon Valley. They are both highly rated and offer bi-lingual instruction that can help your child become fluent in German or Chinese. For the best quality public schools, look into Stevenson elementary schooland Mountain View high school.
5. Best for the Outdoors-Obsessed: Los Gatos
Los Gatos is smaller than the other cities on this list and further from city amenities as it is on Silicon Valley's outskirts. However, that may be just what you and your family are looking for.Los Gatos is a mainly suburban town with excellent public schools, low crime and many amenities you'd expect in a mid-sized city. Los Gatos offers a quiet lifestyle but really stands out in terms of nature. If you live in this town, you'll be surroundedby opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors and bond as a family in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
There are several parks, including Vasona Park and Oak Meadow Park, two great places to take younger children. Vasona Park has an artificial lake that is ideal for boating, fishing, and other family fun. You can also walk along the Los Gatos Trail or bike along the several mountain bike trails on the edges of the city. The closest mountain, El Sereno, is in large part reserved just for hiking and cycling. If you choose to live in Los Gatos, your children will grow surrounded by some beautiful nature.
Are you looking for more advice about where to relocate your family in Silicon Valley? At Fernandez Designs & Builders we can help you find the perfect site for your custom home in the area.